Ira Kaufman Reveals His 2018 All-Pro & AP Postseason Awards Ballot
January 2nd, 2019
“The Sage” is on the 50-member panel that votes on all this cool stuff
By IRA KAUFMAN
Tough call.
As I filled out my All-Pro ballot for the Associated Press this week, I needed more than a few moments to evaluate the NFL’s best wide receivers in 2018.
To show you how difficult a call it was, here are guys who DIDN’T appear on my ballot: Julio Jones, Antonio Brown and Adam Thielen.
I kept coming back to Mike Evans, who turned in 8 100-yard games for the Bucs this year amid all the uncertainty under center. Evans started strong, finished strong and that average of 17.7 yards per catch won me over.
An All-Pro designation is an important one for players and the AP’s 50-member panel takes its work very seriously. The vote could affect a player’s compensation, his chances for All-Decade honors and eventually, his consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
We also choose the big award winners, so let’s start there:
MVP: Pat Mahomes. Tough competition from Drew Brees, but Mahomes threw 50 TD passes, 11 more than runner-up Andrew Luck. His average gain per pass attempt (8.79) was topped only by — gulp! — Ryan Fitzpatrick.
COACH: Frank Reich. The Colts were left for dead at 1-5 before Reich figured things out and closed with a 9-1 burst, despite a young roster. Indy should be a handful for Houston on Saturday.
ASSISTANT: Vic Fangio. The architect of Chicago’s marauding defense, Fangio has emerged as a viable head coaching candidate at the age of 60.
COMEBACK PLAYER: Andrew Luck. After missing all of last season due to an injured shoulder, Luck rebounded in a big way, throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 TDs.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE: Darius Leonard. Derwin James may be the second coming of Brian Dawkins, but Indy’s weak-side linebacker just became the first rookie to lead the league in tackles since Luke Kuechly. earning two AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards along the way.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE: Baker Mayfield. Browns. Saquon Barkley and Quenton Nelson have strong cases, but Mayfield proved his worth as the No. 1 overall pick, throwing 27 TD passes as the suddenly respectable Browns rose from 0-16 to 7-8-1.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Aaron Donald. The easiest pick on the ballot, Donald missed training camp and then took his frustrations out on quarterbacks with 20.5 sacks, a remarkable total for an interior lineman.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Mahomes. Week after week, Mahomes made spectacular plays look routine in leading the Chiefs to the AFC’s best record, despite a porous defense.
Here are my All-Pro selections:
WR: Michael Thomas, Saints; Mike Evans, Bucs
FLEX: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
TE: Travis Kelce, Chiefs
LT: David Bakhtiari, Packers
LG: Quenton Nelson, Colts
C: Jason Kelce, Eagles
RG: Zack Martin, Cowboys
RT: Ryan Ramczyk, Saints
QB: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
RB: Saquon Barkley, Giants
DEFENSE
EDGE: J.J. Watt, Texans; Khalil Mack, Bears
INTERIOR: Aaron Donald, Rams; DeForest Buckner, 49ers
LB: Bobby Wagner, Seahawks; Darius Leonard, Colts; Roquan Smith, Bears
CB: Stephon Gilmore, Patriots; Kyle Fuller, Bears
S: Derwin James, Chargers; Eddie Jackson, Bears
DB: Byron Jones, Cowboys
K: Wil Lutz, Saints
P: Tress Way, Redskins
KR: Andre Roberts, Jets
PR: Desmond King, Chargers
ST: Adrian Phillips, Chargers
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January 2nd, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Ira Kaufma, next general manager of the Bucs!
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:18 pm
lol…and @joe said he’s never seen a GUARD(q.nelson) make an huge impact….lol….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:19 pm
Good list!
Thanks Ira! You’re the best 🙂
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:23 pm
I’m happy for Ira in that he’s a Kansas City fan first and foremost. I look forward to seeing how they do in the playoffs. It has to be tough to try and buff the turd that is Tampa as a paid analyst/writer.
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:32 pm
Nelson! hall of famer we missed, again…
January 2nd, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Per Colin Cowherd and a few others, Le’veon Bell will be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer next season.
Let’s pray it’s true.
January 2nd, 2019 at 2:08 pm
@Jerry Jones …yeah, lovely, fill this weak minded team with a bunch of malcontents…wonder what they’d take for Brown too? Remember Djax? how’d that work? I don’t care how much talent a guy has, if he doesn’t WANT to play football (BELL!!!), said player is useless to the team concept.
January 2nd, 2019 at 2:16 pm
MVP Jameis Winston
Comeback Player Of The Year: Jameis Winston
Offensive Player of the year: Jameis Winston
Rookie of the year: Derwin James Jr
Coach Of The Year: Willie Taggart
January 2nd, 2019 at 3:08 pm
Colin Cowherd is the one person you should never listen to when it comes to rumors and predictions. I think he has a good sports show, but he’s no more an expert than most people that comment on JBF.
January 2nd, 2019 at 3:25 pm
813bucboi Says:
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:18 pm
lol…and @joe said he’s never seen a GUARD(q.nelson) make an huge impact….lol….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!!….#ADIOSDIRK!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
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Bucboi – I actually agree with you, and I remember a bunch of posters on here as well literally having the nerve to suggest that Will Hernandez was just as good. This season is why scouts were tripping over their diks for Nelson. He is a once in a generation player.
January 2nd, 2019 at 6:04 pm
Would anyone trade DJax and a third round pick to Philly for Wentz? I would in a heartbeat. Could save Philly’s QB pr issue and give the Bucs time to determine if either Wertz or Winston are the future. If you sign Bell also and draft either the Bama or Florida tackle with the 1st round pick, things look dramatically different. If you trade the 1st pick to move down and add a second and a third, the Bucs could draft whichever tackle is still on the board in the 1st and have some picks to take impact DT or DE and add depth along O-line.
January 2nd, 2019 at 7:10 pm
^what are you smoking because I need me some of that!